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The earliest references to King Arthur are found in the Welsh bardic tradition. ... Aneirin represented Arthur as the model king and warrior. ...
The earliest written record citing King Arthur was Historia Brittonum (The History of the Brittons), composed by Nennius between 918 AD and 939 AD. In the Historia, Arthur was described as the victor of twelve battles, the most famous being the Battle of Badon. Arthur is victorious, killing more men than anyone else. This is one quality that makes him such a great king. ... This battle is one of the first times that Arthur is described as a Christian King. To win this battle "Arthur carried the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ for three days and three nights (Annales Cambraie)." Arthur here is a valiant Christian warrior and king, who fights for his faith and country.
One of the most famous of the early records of King Arthur was Historia Regum Brittanniae (History of the Kings of Britain), by Geoffrey of Monmouth, written in 1138. ... Over one-fifth of this book is about King Arthur. ... Geoffrey gives Arthur a legitimate claim to the throne through his father Uther Pendragon. ... This portrayal of Arthur was so successful that it was translated and circulated to France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and even Byzantium. ... Arthur began to recede into the background, while previously minor characters began to take on more importance. ... While imprisoned, Malory collected several sources, in order to write the story of King Arthur. ... Malory set Arthur first as a knight, and then as a king. Malory views the role of the king like the role of the knight (Kennedy, 21-24). Both do justice, but the king is the vassal of God. Arthur showed that he is a good Christian king on his first day in that office; he immediately settled the disputes among his knights and subjects. As king, Arthur had to first assert his right to be King and then battle against the lords who did not support his claim.
And yet, Arthur is portrayed as a sinner. Arthur, young and full of confidence defeats the lords and demands their allegiance. After the battle, Arthur shows that although he is the vassal of God, he is still a sinner. ... And King Arthur set his love greatly upon her, and so did she upon him, and the king had ado with her, and gat on her a child(Malory, page 42).
Later, Arthur leaves her, never returning to take care of the child. Arthur treats the woman as a prize, what was due to him as the victor of battle. He is after all the king, and it was very normal and acceptable for him to claim the woman for a night. Her father, the defeated earl, could not deny the king his daughter. If he did, it would be seen as denying Arthur his allegiance.
As Arthur travels throughout the kingdom, he stayed with King Leodengrance, and met Guinevere. Arthur thought of her as beautiful and desired her. ... A few pages later, Arthur again takes a woman. While visiting King Lot, Arthur meets Morgause, the mother of Lots four sons: Gawaine, Gaheris, Agravain, and Gareth. Although she was married and the wife of his host Arthur desired her.
For she was a passing fair lady, wherefore the king cast a great love unto her, and desired to lie by her. ...
Although Arthur was married, he saw Morgawse as an object of his desire. Arthur committed adultery with her, ignoring all the Christian laws that forbid such an act. Later, Arthur finds out that he has had a child by Morgawse and that she was also his half-sister.
Approximate Word count = 2987
Approximate Pages = 11.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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